Hello My name is Ranee, I’m studying English Literature , and actually I’m doing my Final Project, The tittle that I have is "Imagery found in the song lyrics of Fall Out Boy album “infinity on High”, but then My lecturer wants me to analyze another aspect of these lyrics but Imagery. I was so clueless, I think I’ll decide to analyze the figurative expression of the lyrics, but I don’t really understand what is figurative language. If any of you can help me with this, I 'll appreciate it.
and maybe if any of you have any ideas what should be analyze on the song lyrics , you can tell me.
Did you tell your teacher what additional aspects of the lyrics they want analyzed? Maybe, if read the lyrics of that song several times you will find out what the author wants to tell you and you simply write about your findings. Figurative expressions leave room for interpretation. Instead of a literal meaning they contain a mental picture – an imagine that you create in your mind.
So, what do you think are the “Infinity on High” songs all about?
Imagery can be anything from metaphor to colour. You could analyse all kinds of tropes (figurative meanings), puns or comparisons, but you could also reflect on certain words that you deem most noticeable, striking or simply conspicuous.
To give you an example, I know a song by Fall Out Boy called “The Carpal Tunnel of Love”. At first sight, the word “carpal” seems plain out of context. The title itself could suggest that too much love may give you a typist’s cramp, but what it more likely alludes to is the pain you feel once you’ve entered the tunnel that’s called love. A tunnel is mostly associated with darkness, oppression or a point of no return. In other words, once you fall in love you will inevitably get hurt. And you will not necessarily suffer from an inflammation of your tendon, but more likely from your heart in flames.
OOPS, I’ve just noticed that your comment “My lecturer wants me to analyze another aspect of these lyrics but Imagery” probably means that your teacher does not want you to concentrate on the imagery alone. In this case, you could i.e. try to identify a social, political or biographical dimension…
No, my lecturer just told me there are too many students analyzed “Imagery” , I ve read the lyrics.So the music is kind of Emo ( from the word Emotion) so I guess they have this emotion aspect on their lyric.
here I gave you an example of the lyric :
I’m Like A Lawyer With The Way I’m Always Trying…
Last year’s wishes,
Are this year’s apologies.
Every last time I come home,
I take my last chance,
To burn a bridge or two.
I only keep myself this sick in the head,
'Cause I know how the words get you.
We’re the new face of failure.
Prettier and younger but not any better off.
Bulletproof loneliness,
At best.
At best.
Me and you,
Setting in a honeymoon.
If I woke up next to you.
(If I woke up next to you.)
Me and you,
Setting in a honeymoon.
If I woke up next to you.
(If I woke up next to you.)
Collect the bad habits,
That you couldn’t bare to keep,
Out of the woods but I love,
A tree I used to lay beneath.
Kiss teeth stained red,
From a sour bottle, baby girl,
With eyes the size of baby worlds.
We’re the new face of failure.
Prettier and younger but not any better off.
Bulletproof loneliness,
At best.
At best.
Me and you,
Setting in a honeymoon.
If I woke up next to you.
(If I woke up next to you.)
Me and you,
Setting in a honeymoon.
If I woke up next to you.
(If I woke up next to you.)
Me and you,
Setting in a honeymoon.
If I woke up next to you.
(If I woke up next to you.)
Me and you,
Setting in a honeymoon.
If I woke up next to you.
(If I woke up next to you.)
The best,
Way to make it through,
With hearts and wrists intact
Is to realize,
Two out of three ain’t bad.
Ain’t bad.
Maybe it helps if you rewrite the song as a story. There is a lot of imagery in there, but there is also a more tangible theme of a relationship in a crisis-shaken condition. You will have to analyse some of the song’s imagery to get to the gist, though. But you should try to concentrate on the writer’s general message rather than twisting the metaphors. Concentrate on the parts that are being repeated throughout the song. Obviously, the theme of a honeymoon that is about to start and the solution that is offered in the last verse are also worth looking at.
Tip – “Two out of three ain’t bad” made me think that the person responsible for the lyrics wants the relationship to continue
